Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 FZ300 Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 (aka FZ300) is a 12 megapixel bridge camera, which updates the FZ200, and features a bright f/2.8 aperture 24x optical zoom lens equivalent to 25-600mm in 35mm terms, 4K photo and video recording, a high resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), a vari-angle touch screen and a weather-sealed body.
 

Panasonic Lumix FZ330 (FZ300) Features

The 24x optical zoom Leica lens features a constant f/2.8 aperture, equivalent to 25-600mm in 35mm terms, and also features 5-axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), plus a nano surface coating to minimise ghosting and flare, as well as providing a deep lens hood in the box with the camera. The lens can focus on subjects just 1cm away from the front of the lens for impressive macro photographs. 

The Panasonic Lumix FZ330 records 4K video (3840x2160, 25p), as well as 4K photo at 30fps producing 8-megapixel images. The three options when shooting 4K photo are: 

• 4K burst (30fps), records while the shutter is pressed
• 4K burst Start/Stop, records after you've pressed the shutter release button and stops when you press it again
• 4K Pre-burst shooting, the camera records images before and after you've pressed the shutter release

The camera also records Full HD video with Dolby Stereo sound, as well as high-speed 200fps / 100fps video at a reduced VGA and HD resolution respectively.

The FZ330 uses the same sensor as the FZ200, but now features a new Venus engine giving ISO6400 as the highest ISO setting available. Various shooting modes are included, along with P/A/S/M manual controls, custom, intelligent Auto, numerous scene modes and creative effects as well as raw shooting. Built in raw image development is available in camera and there are highlight / shadow control options. The camera also features multi-exposure and wide panoramic shooting. 

The camera is splash and dust proof, with a high-resolution vari-angle touchscreen, along with a high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder with a 1440K dot resolution. DFD (Depth from defocus) Technology gives Light Speed AF performance, and is a technology that was introduced with the Panasonic Lumix GH4.

Wi-Fi connectivity lets you shoot remotely, transfer and share images, as well as add geotag location information to your photos from your smartphone. The Panasonic Image App is available for iOS and Android devices. 

Key Features

• 24x optical zoom Leica lens, 25-600mm (equivalent), f/2.8 constant aperture
• 12.1mp high sensitivity MOS, 1/2.33inch sensor
• 0.7x 1440k dot EVF with eye sensor
• 3inch 1040k touch LCD screen
• 5-axis hybrid OIS+
• ISO100 to ISO6400
• 12fps continuous shooting, 6fps with AFC
• 4K photo / video, stereo sound recording
• 1cm macro mode
• Wi-Fi / QR code connection
• 3.5mm microphone socket
• Splash / dustproof with weather-sealed body
• 380 shot battery life

Panasonic Lumix FZ330 (FZ300) Handling

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 (known as the FZ300 elsewhere) matches the design style of the FZ1000, GH4, and G7 with additional zoom and focus controls on the lens barrel. There is a mic socket on the side, plus a vari-angle touchscreen on the rear. The battery and memory compartment are both under the weather-sealed camera, and you can see the foam weather sealing when this is open. 

Build quality is very good with the camera feeling very sturdy, despite being made from plastic. There is a large rubber hand-grip surrounding the right-hand side of the camera, and this extends to the rear of the camera to give your thumb a good area to hold on to. The control wheel is neatly placed so that your thumb can easily reach this and adjust it.

The camera has a logical layout of controls with most of them accessible using your right hand. When holding the camera with two hands, which is recommended for a stable grip, then the controls on the left of the camera are easy to reach. 

The electronic viewfinder (EVF), or Live View Finder (LVF) as Panasonic like to call it, has a large rubber surround as well as an eye detection sensor so that the camera will automatically switch to the EVF when held up to your eye. Another feature of this is Eye-sensor AF - meaning that the camera automatically starts focusing, when the camera is held up to your eye. The view through the EVF matches the screen in colour, and both the EVF and screen are very quick to refresh making them enjoyable to use. The screen also has very good viewing angles. 

Menus – The Panasonic menus are neatly arranged, over several screens, and the options each have built in guides to let you know what you are doing. You can also use the Quick (Q) menu button to bring up on screen a number of the more commonly changed options available. 

Image App Menu

Remote Operation

Playback

Wi-Fi features - Built-in Wi-Fi means you can connect the FZ330 to your smartphone for remote shooting and playback, using the Panasonic Image App, which is available for iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't have built-in NFC, which can make it easier to setup the connection with smartphones that have NFC. You can also setup playback on a compatible TV, send images while shooting, and send images stored in the camera. Jump mode uses your smartphone's motion sensor to detect when you have jumped and is designed to get a photo of you in mid-air. You can also use the app to add GPS data to your photos.

Battery life - Battery life is rated at 380 shots according to Panasonic / CIPA test results, which is good for this class of camera, although extended use of Wi-Fi is likely to reduce battery life further.